I have been looking for an 87-89 Prostar for a few weeks and finally found an 89. The interior and exterior are both in immaculate shape - almost too good of shape for a 24 year old boat. The motor has just under 500 hours, and the last registration sticker is from 2005. The guy selling it has never ran the boat, he traded a truck for it and is now looking to sell the boat since he has 2 others already. He claims the boat was previously owned by a boat mechanic and was ran (with no valid registration) for a couple of weeks at the end of the season.

My question is - what should I check on the motor and tranny? I will do a test drive and a compression check. Is there anything else to look for with a boat that has been sitting for potentially 8 years? The motor and bilge were just as clean as the rest of the boat and there was no rust anywhere. I hate to pass up an oppurtunity at such a well preserved boat, but am afraid of what is in the motor with it sitting for so long. Thanks for the help.

The first thing I would do is pull the plugs and advance the engine by hand with a wrench on the crank. A stuck or nearly stuck piston could have catastrophic results even with a starter motor. If you have or can get a scope, inspect the cylinders through the plug holes for rust. All can look great from the outside but bad on the inside. Not a deal breaker if fixed.

... You can sink another $5K into a boat easily enough on top of the 'great deal' price if it's trashed out. All sunken costs too.

The thing is, you can sink $5k into a well preserved boat too. All sunken costs. Now alot of that can be "upgrades" if you will, but there is great deal of stuff that "can be/needs to be" replaced on a 20+ year old boat.

Not everyone has the proper level of anal retentiveness (AKA MCOCD).

After all, you will be out on the water with your family in this thing. You don't want it to break down / and or sink with you on it.

The longer you plan to/decide to hold onto any boat (toy), the longer the costs amortize out as well. As the sage TMMC pointed out recently, we all walk the line on balancing present "needs" and future resale.

My .02

Keeping in mind that a brand new MC 190/197 is well north of $60k new. Its all relative in my mind.

I have been looking for an 87-89 Prostar for a few weeks and finally found an 89. The interior and exterior are both in immaculate shape - almost too good of shape for a 24 year old boat. The motor has just under 500 hours, and the last registration sticker is from 2005. The guy selling it has never ran the boat, he traded a truck for it and is now looking to sell the boat since he has 2 others already. He claims the boat was previously owned by a boat mechanic and was ran (with no valid registration) for a couple of weeks at the end of the season.

My question is - what should I check on the motor and tranny? I will do a test drive and a compression check. Is there anything else to look for with a boat that has been sitting for potentially 8 years? The motor and bilge were just as clean as the rest of the boat and there was no rust anywhere. I hate to pass up an oppurtunity at such a well preserved boat, but am afraid of what is in the motor with it sitting for so long. Thanks for the help.

ding..ding...you're almost too good says it all.... show us pictures and and let's hear her run.

8 years sitting around...seals are probably in poor shape. Get a 5 gallon bucket and run it. When was the fluid in the tranny changed last.

I can just imagine the crud sludge in the motor/tranny from just sitting for 8 years. I took apart my 2 HP - has't ran for 5 years - couldn't believe the crap that came out... cleaned it up put new gaskets in and got it running.

Good news it's carbed so no ECU to deal with. Pictures, price... and what's your repair/restrore/rennovate dollar threshold once you buy it. How much can you fix yourself.

__________________...A bad day water skiing still beats a good day at work...1995 Pro Star 205....

Rubber parts will be the most affected from sitting. Engine and transmission seals, valve cover gaskets. A carb rebuild should be factored in as well as removing the fuel tank for a cleaning. Your decision should factor in whether or not you can do this work yourself, or if you have to take it in to the shop for work. This really sounds best purchased by someone who can do the work themselves.

The thing is, you can sink $5k into a well preserved boat too. All sunken costs. Now alot of that can be "upgrades" if you will, but there is great deal of stuff that "can be/needs to be" replaced on a 20+ year old boat.

Not everyone has the proper level of anal retentiveness (AKA MCOCD).

After all, you will be out on the water with your family in this thing. You don't want it to break down / and or sink with you on it.

The longer you plan to/decide to hold onto any boat (toy), the longer the costs amortize out as well. As the sage TMMC pointed out recently, we all walk the line on balancing present "needs" and future resale.

My .02

Keeping in mind that a brand new MC 190/197 is well north of $60k new. Its all relative in my mind.

I've been called a lot of things, most of which would be censored here, but I think this is the first time I have been called sage.